M21 296

[StraightShooter]

I was wondering if anyone could tell me anything about this SKS. 
M21 is for export and 296 is the manufacturer but is the serial number a 10 million?  It looks like a 70 million number.

Thanks

[Phosphorus32]

70 for 1970. All of the Factory 296 M21 serial numbers start with “70”.

[StraightShooter]

70 for 1970. All of the Factory 296 M21 serial numbers start with “70”.

Thanks  for the information.  I did not know that. 

[carls sks]

 looks like a nice one SS(hint!). 

[StraightShooter]

The sks is all matching except for the magazine. I picked it up several years ago and the original owner had damaged the magazine trying to modify it. I replaced the mag and it feeds/functions reliably now. 

[Phosphorus32]

It's a shame that Bubba had to mess up the original magazine, but it looks like a beauty 

[firstchoice]

You've kept it in great shape, StraightShooter! Always good to see one kept like that instead of being modified to no end. I guess you already tried to track down the original magazine? I have a non-matching Chinese SKS that I still look for the original parts for on E-Bay and anywhere else I can. You never know! Hey, it could happen! I've actually matched up parts for two different people that had SKS with missing numbered parts and I ended up with their long-lost parts by total chance. I wish I could find my missing parts now. Kinda like the lottery though. Astronomical chances of finding them.

Are there other models of the SKS that use the Roman Numeral III on the sight leaf? I've seen that before. I'm not familiar with Arsenal 296. I see they used the ribbed plastic upper handguard like the 23 and 24 million /26\ rifles. Is yours a threaded barrel or pinned? My eyes aren't as sharp as they once were.

It's an awesome M21. Thanks for posting it up!

firstchoice

[Bacarnal]

Which mags you missing, FC? I have 3 Chinese and a Russian.  Cheers, Bruce.

[running-man]

Are there other models of the SKS that use the Roman Numeral III on the sight leaf? I've seen that before. I'm not familiar with Arsenal 296. I see they used the ribbed plastic upper handguard like the 23 and 24 million /26\ rifles. Is yours a threaded barrel or pinned? My eyes aren't as sharp as they once were.

It's an awesome M21. Thanks for posting it up!

firstchoice

The III sight leaf is prevalent on the year 23 and 24 /26\ guns.  Also seen on all T63s.  This group of guns all have the french tickler handguards as well.  Appears to be a package deal consistent with late production at /26\.  /26\ did not produce pinned barrel type 56s, this gun like the 23 and 24 mils will be a short lug threaded barrel.   

[Larry D.]

That one is gorgeous.

[Boris Badinov]

70 for 1970. All of the Factory 296 M21 serial numbers start with “70”.

The hand guard, the inverted cover release latch and stock relief,  and the overall finish quality suggest a a much later date of production than 1970.

I think it is possible that the  709 prefix might  indicate 70+9 i.e. 1979?

(IIRC someone here has a similar theory on this serial prefix)

[Boris Badinov]

Nice carbine btw.

Definite safe queen.

[running-man]

70 for 1970. All of the Factory 296 M21 serial numbers start with “70”.

The hand guard, the inverted cover release latch and stock relief,  and the overall finish quality suggest a a much later date of production than 1970.

I think it is possible that the  709 prefix might  indicate 70+9 i.e. 1979?

(IIRC someone here has a similar theory on this serial prefix)

That was LC's theory I believe.  We hashed this out in a long thread a while ago and don't think anyone was 100% convinced one way or another. 

I think the feature similarity to the 23 and 24 /26\ guns is a good indicator that these guns probably fall in that timeframe too: 1978 & 1979.

[Boris Badinov]

70 for 1970. All of the Factory 296 M21 serial numbers start with “70”.

The hand guard, the inverted cover release latch and stock relief,  and the overall finish quality suggest a a much later date of production than 1970.

I think it is possible that the  709 prefix might  indicate 70+9 i.e. 1979?

(IIRC someone here has a similar theory on this serial prefix)

That was LC's theory I believe.  We hashed this out in a long thread a while ago and don't think anyone was 100% convinced one way or another. 

I think the feature similarity to the 23 and 24 /26\ guns is a good indicator that these guns probably fall in that timeframe too: 1978 & 1979.

I thought it was him. The hypothesis seems to have a lot in favor.

[StraightShooter]

I did some searching and found the original magazine.  It looks like the original owner spot welded the mag.  I am wondering if a little careful dremmel work and some cold blue would get this mag functioning again. 

Also, any tips on how to get the pictures in the correct orientation?

[firstchoice]

I did some searching and found the original magazine.  It looks like the original owner spot welded the mag.  I am wondering if a little careful dremmel work and some cold blue would get this mag functioning again. 

Also, any tips on how to get the pictures in the correct orientation?

Oh, heck yeah! Did you get it? Absolutely, it will be repairable. I don't know why it was done but it will be reversible. (As long as there's no unseen damage or more "handiwork" to the inside of the magazine that would somehow affect the mag's function. But I wouldn't think so.) What a score! Take your time and work that weld down to as good a finish as is possible to match the rest of your M21. Having that missing magazine, and putting it back to "all-matching" brought the value of your M21 up at least $50.00 I would think. Way to go StraightShooter!

And, you can sell your non-matching mag and recoup any costs there.

firstchoice

[firstchoice]

You might check to see if the welding was done to restrict the round capacity. That can be reversed as well. As long as you're not in Canada or some other area that has restrictions like that.

After re-reading one of your previous posts, it sounds like you've had the original magazine all along? Definitely do spend the time to repair and touch up the original mag. It's well worth your effort. Do you know what the previous owner was trying to do with the mag alterations? I would be curious to know.

firstchoice

[firstchoice]

Are there other models of the SKS that use the Roman Numeral III on the sight leaf? I've seen that before. I'm not familiar with Arsenal 296. I see they used the ribbed plastic upper handguard like the 23 and 24 million /26\ rifles. Is yours a threaded barrel or pinned? My eyes aren't as sharp as they once were.

It's an awesome M21. Thanks for posting it up!

firstchoice

The III sight leaf is prevalent on the year 23 and 24 /26\ guns.  Also seen on all T63s.  This group of guns all have the french tickler handguards as well.  Appears to be a package deal consistent with late production at /26\.  /26\ did not produce pinned barrel type 56s, this gun like the 23 and 24 mils will be a short lug threaded barrel.   

I knew I'd seen that before. So, all M21's have the "tickler" handguards, the inverted cover release latch, and stock relief. Does anyone know how close in proximity the Arsenal 296 is/was to Arsenal /26\? They seem to put out identical quality and features. Were all M21's new production guns and no reworked/scrubbed guns?

firstchoice

[firstchoice]

Which mags you missing, FC? I have 3 Chinese and a Russian.  Cheers, Bruce.

Hey Bruce. I'm looking for Chinese magazine with SN 38446 for the rifle SN 11138446.

firstchoice

[Larry D.]

I think the key to repairing that magazine is patience.
If you're not experienced using a Dremel to cut with, GO SLOW.
Too much pressure can shatter a cutting wheel. Some will then go to the thicker wheel. Then either bog down the tool or have it skip across the piece they're working on, putting a pretty nice idiot mark across the metal.

Go slow. Just touch off a little bit at a time and you'll be well rewarded. It's definitely a project worth doing well.